8/10/2015

Best Japanese in Chicago. Three tips for when you visit:

1. Get the omakase. Kai Zan chefs know what you want more than you do. Trust me on this.

2. Make a reservation. You will never get in without one. And be prepared to get up and leave after 90 minutes; they're strict here.

3. If it's not on the omakase menu, do yourself a favor and add on an order of the escolar pearls.

Prepare to have your mind blown!

8/13/2015

Finally I got to try out this place for my birthday! Boy was it a treat!

My suggestion is to ask what the chef's choice includes and if it floats your boat, go for it! That was exactly what I did. This way you are able to try out a little bit of everything on their menu. You won't regret the decision, I promise. There was so much food and it almost seemed endless. In addition to the tasting menu, we ordered the uni toro tartare and dessert in the end.

One of my favorite dish of the night was the uni toro tartare! I love the DIY concept to this dish, and it almost seem endless. You just need to work for your food. Mix the tartare together really good and channel your inner sushi chef to make your own rolls.

As much of a turn off the time limit is when you make the reservations, I did not feel at all pressured during the service. We did take a bit of time to make a decision, but our server was very patient with us. He walked us through the menu and elaborated on any questions I had along with making great suggestions.

The pace was on point, however my ONLY critic is that from sitting at the bar and seeing how the kitchen flowed, what I noticed was the timing and preparation of the food. Some of the hot food was sitting there longer than I would have liked it because when I got my food expecting it to be hot, it was warm, if not almost cold. Of the hot food, only the soup and dynamite mussel were actually hot. Everything else minus the raw stuff were almost cold, which was a bit disappointing.

The concept of clean and simple flavors is what I left with at this place. The tasting menu flowed from simple to variety and back to simple again. Nothing distracted your palette of the original flavors. As the tasting menu ends with a showcasing a selection of sashimi, I thought was genius because the menu took you on such an adventure, but made sure to remind you of the origin with the main ingredients of the night, fish. Just the concept of something as simple as fish can be created and paired with different things, but yet alone it can still be appreciated.

To end this wonderful experience, we had a cup of green tea (FREE) and Cashew Panna Cotta. Not too sweet or heavy. Simple but yet so many textures and layers involved in just a little dessert. It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday dinner! Cheers.

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  Cashew Panna Cotta

  Cashew Panna Cotta
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  Dynamite mussel

  Dynamite mussel
• See all photos from Amy D. for Kai Zan

8/3/2015

Are you kidding me?? This place is magic! If you have not eaten here, please do yourself a favor and go NOW! I took my best friend for his birthday and we were blown away! I have had sushi and chefs tasting menus before, but this is by far THE best!! Great ambience and great service!! All I can say is Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
It's a great place for an intimate meal.
Get the chefs choice menu and you can't go wrong.

6/20/2015

Best Omakase Ever!

I don't know why I didn't listen to everyone else in Chicago and made the trek to Kai Zan sooner. Like seriously, I've been missing out!!! I could write a book on how amazing it is, but please listen to the masses and come here pronto!

Let me say that they have converted me to an uni lover. I have never really been a fan of uni and now I know it's because I've never had truly awesome uni. I love sushi and I'll even tolerate subpar sushi but really this is out of this world amazingly fresh and creatively composed sushi!!!

I had their omakase with some food loving friends and now I feel like I can never go back and not get the omakase. It's worth every cent and the chef even added an extra course with an off the menu item that still makes my mouth water when I think about it.

Service was amazing. They kept checking on us and explained every course that came out in detail. I have nothing bad to say. This is my new favorite for sushi!!!

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  Off the menu. On the omakase.

  Off the menu. On the omakase.

7/23/2015

Eskimo Clouds and Escolar Pearls were nothing short of fantastic.

Kai Zan is a great Japanese fusion restaurant, but their omakase really isn't omakase, but rolls, sashimi, and some other wraps put together by the chef for you to extensively sample the menu. So, call it a sampler and not omakase.

Kai Zan is definitely a place you have to come at least twice, as the second time you'll know what you like and have different expectations of it. Its not a place for sushi snobs like you'll find in New York and LA, but rather a place to enjoy the food and presentation and a wonderful restaurant to introduce your non-sushi loving friends to the fabulous world of sashimi.

There are a lot of things that Kai Zan does wrong, first and foremost how it built up the eating experience with textures and flavours. Kai Zan is far from a traditional sushi restaurant, but some facets of Japanese food isn't a rule of thumb just to be structured and exotic, but should apply to all multiple course meals regardless of style. Perhaps Kai Zan tried a little too hard to be different that it sacrificed the dining experience for the sake uniqueness.

On the other hand, that's probably all I can say poorly about Kai Zan. The food in the "omakase" was nearly impeccable and among the best I've ever while in the Midwest. Our server was friendly and patient, and contributed to us having a great time. Kai Zan hit a ton of the right spots, and they definitely did not skimp on buying the best fish available.

The escolar pearls are to die for, and out of all the Korean sushi places I've had it, Kai Zan's is by far the most innovative. The Eskimo Clouds seem like an embodiment of Chicago's unique brand of Japanese food.

If you love sushi, come to Kai Zan with an open mind. If you want to treat it like Zo or Ichimura, you're going to be sorely dissapointed. This is not a place for diehard sushi lovers, but its a fantastic restaurant at a fantastic price.

Kai Zan isn't my type of restaurant, and I didn't love it, but objectively, its as good as it gets in the Modern Asian Fusion category.

Seriously though, Kai Zan needs to include some uni in their cheaper omakase. Just order everything off the menu on your second visit. Its not a real omakase, so you can probably do a better job yourself.

Oyster Shooter: 3/5
Red Snapper: 3/5
Uni: 4/5
Salmon: 4/5
Tuna: 3/5
Toro: 3/5
Hamachi: 4/5
Escolar: 5/5
Blueberry pie shot: 1/5
Presentation: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Diversity: 4/5
Price: $$$$/$$$$
Satisfaction:Price- 5/5

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• See all photos from Stanley W. for Kai Zan

6/9/2015

This is really, really good.  It's most similar to having an Uchi (Houston/Austin) smack dab in Chicago.  Chicagoland is sorely missing good sushi omakases, and Kai Zan fits the mark.  This is a fusion joint, but, and this is a big but, they pay a lot of attention to detail and source very high quality ingredients.  For example, last evening I had a sushi omakase with Mitsu-san himself at Sushi Yasuda in NYC, and I noticed Kai Zan was using some of the same exact ingredients (I could tell by the Japanese writing).

I did the premium omakase with a few additional dishes thrown in to placate my inner sushi cravings:

1) Seared salmon marinated in soy and mirin (4/5) - interesting, almost smoky flavor.  Very good ginger.  Pickled wasabi.

- Note, a lot of their fish are fatty cuts, but often marinated.  That is fine with me, as I imagine they might not get fish from Tokyo every day, and sushi is meant to be marinated :)

2) Raw wagyu beef with a touch of toro and caviar in a maitake mushroom sauce (4/5) - this was almost an amuse bouche, in that it was one bite, I thought it should have come before the salmon

3) Pei wei served katsu style with sweet potato tempura (3/5) -- Pei wei (?) is a Brazilian fish, and it was fried with a curry flavor.  I'm not as big on fried dishes, so I knocked this a point, but many people would probably like it.  The black plate was a bit severe

4) Chawanmushi with rice chip, radishes and caviar (5/5) -- loved this.  This is where I became very impressed.  Very good egg custard, and the crispy rice was an interesting garnishment, which was meant to be broken into the soup almost like an oyster cracker

5) Wagyu beef seared with crisp greens (5/5) -- extremely strong.  They source their waygu from Japan and it was cooked perfectly.  This is reason enough for the premium omakase.  I'm still salivating

6) Toro, lobster with uni, and hotate with truffle oil nigiri (4.5/5) -- I liked the nigiri course at this juncture, because they went with big flavors.  Almost everything was marinated except the uni.  The toro was delicious, and the hotate with truffle oil melted in my mouth

- The rice was very good with nice flavor, although a touch cold for me (should be room temperature or a bit above).  They serve three pieces at a time, which isn't a crime, but doesn't necessarily shine (sorry for the rhyme)

7) Ika plus asparagus (3/5) -- This was a little dry compared to some of the other luscious dishes, although the pairing had an interesting crunch which served as an effective contrast to the oily aspect of the previous course

8) Hamachi kama (4/5) -- I added this, as I was craving a classic dish.  The hamachi kama was cooked perfectly and was very juicy.  There was a very good ponzu sauce and pickled cabbage.  I enjoyed the miso soup with which it came (heavy on the tofu and mushrooms)

9) Marinated toro with pickled wasabi and sea salt (5/5) -- they go big on the toro here, and the pickled wasabi is a lot of fun.  if you're a fan of Hayakawa down in Atlanta, you'd appreciate it here, too

10) Cold smoked marinated Hamachi with pickled wasabi and micro greens and caviar (4/5) -- another strong dish, and it reminded me a lot of Uchi due to the smoke effect  (think Jar Jar Duck of Uchi fame)

11)  Sashimi plate - Hamachi belly, toro, madai served with pickled wasabi (5/5) -- loved this.  Perfect cuts.  All very delicious.  I found it surprising to be served sashimi  at the end, but the server made note of this that they like to mix it up, and since the flavors were so rich it held up nicely

12) Cucumber, king crab, uni roll (5/5) -- the chef comped this for me, which I found very kind.  It was a refreshing dish, and the uni was so sweet which paired nicely with the crisp cucumber and delicious, succulent crab.  It was almost a palette cleanser

13) Nigiri dessert course (3/5) - uni, tamago, unagi.  The uni was delicious.  Straight from Santa Barbara.  The tamago was not layered as tightly as I would have expected and the searing was too dramatic, which took away from the lightness of the egg.  The unagi was BBQ'd too aggressively.  They were out of anago

Service here is 5/5.  Everyone is extremely pleasant and even jovial.  The chefs are not Japanese, but clearly have mastered many aspects of the craft and I did not notice any diminution of knife skills.  They are very talented.  The space is cool, although the sushi bar is not large so make sure you get your spot.  I have this place tied with Katsu in Chicagoland for sushi omakase.  Katsu, of course, is where to go for more tradition nigiri, albeit with gold leaf, and Kai Zan is where to go for a great time and a lot of different tastes

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  Unagi

  Unagi
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  Uni

  Uni
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  Tamago

  Tamago
• See all photos from David D. for Kai Zan

7/14/2015

As I reflect on all the sushi I've had in Chicago...Kai Zan takes my #1 spot for sushi! The boyfriend and I went here for an anniversary dinner a couple years ago, and to this day it was one of our top 3 meals in Chicago. If you go here, you MUST do omakase (the chef selects your dishes for you). We opted for the 12-course menu which was about $60/person. Every one of our courses was fresh and scrumptious, but I'd say our favorite course was the oyster shooters (and I don't even like oysters, so that's saying something!). The ambiance is trendy and intimate, great for a dinner date or special occassion. So if you like sushi and/or have a special occassion coming up, get your bootie down here! It may become your favorite sushi spot in Chicago too. =)

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• See all photos from Diane G. for Kai Zan

7/13/2015 Updated review

I'm sold. This is probably the freshest sushi/sashimi place I've been to in Chicago, and would highly recommend to anyone!!

I've tried both the popular omasake tasting menu ($60) and the premium omasake tasting menu ($130). Both were excellent.

Favorites from their menus are the oyster shooters (both), the wagyu beef (premium) and the fatty tuna fish (premium).

Ambiance is intimate and upscale modern without being pretentious. If you have 3 or more in your party, you'll get their private booths, which I really enjoyed sitting at.

Make reservations in advanced. It's not a large venue and seats go fast! It's popular for a reason.

8/4/2015

People love this place and I always wonder why. We went up eating here when we are starving after work and the portions are not enough and the prices are sky high. Sure it's cute, but there are other places that you can go to get some great sushi. The staff is really friendly and help you make some smart choices. If you do do I recommend the calamari strings and whatever the chef's special role is. I didn't like the limited dessert menu. As someone with a big sweet tooth that is a must!!

6/19/2015

/TL;DR
Super accommodating with great service. Spectacular food. Best gem is when you ask the waitstaff for their recommendation, and they lock up because they have a hard time telling you which one they love most.

Since we were in the loop, getting here required taking a bit of drive with Uber to get there. Well worth it though.

/ATMOSPHERE
One way to describe this place would be small. From the outside, it looks it. Inside, it's perfectly cramped which creates a type of intimate surrounding. The booths near the sushi bar are private in a way since the walls are very high. The decor was quite warm and inviting.

/FOOD
We went with the recommendation the waitstaff provided. It was on point. If you need an idea, go for the pearls. We couldn't decide between the escolar or maguro pearls so they split a single dish. Honestly, it was the best thing we ate there.

I don't know though. I mean... char siu? Ridiculous. So damn good. We also had a selection of maki rolls. They were probably my least favorite but still definitely memorable.

/SERVICE
Excellent. Attentive. Knowledgable. A little slow at times... but Kai Zan was packed out!

They were gracious with accommodating our late arrival. Glad, too, since it turned out to be one of the best sushi meals I've ever had.

HOW TO READ MY REVIEWS:
1 Star - Does not approach edible. Enter at your own risk.
2 Stars - If I'm in the area, I'd pick something else.
3 Stars - I would stop by if I happen to be in the area.
4 Stars - I would pick this place out of other places nearby.
5 Stars - I would go out of my way to dine here.

5/29/2015

I can honestly say that this was the best meal I've ever eaten.

My boyfriend and I had made reservations
to go to Kai Zan several months ago, but did not go due to the distance (& ended up paying a cancellation fee -- take note of this when making a reservation). We finally made the trek several weeks ago, and now wholeheartedly regret not going that first time. Kai Zan is small & unassuming. We sat at the sushi bar & were immediately greeted by the chef. After he learned that my boyfriend is a recent sushi convert, he gave us an amazing appetizer on the house. Throughout our entire meal, he continued to check in with us. It made for an awesome, intimate experience.

My boyfriend and I both ordered the 10 piece omakase, featuring the "greatest hits" from the regular menu & several off the menu dishes. We started out with various sushi items, moved on to soup & hot dishes, and finished with the best maki & sashimi I have ever tasted. I was a bit hesitant when I noticed the final course was just sashimi -- I have always been a huge nigiri fan, but I hadn't quite mentally acquiesced to the idea of eating just pieces of raw fish at this point -- but I was absolutely blown away. The salmon/sake sashimi was probably the best thing I've ever tasted & now I'm completely hooked on (good) sashimi.

I'd 100% recommend the omakase. You'll leave full and dreaming of your next visit for only $60 + tip. Then again, the highlights for me were the pearls, the "Angry Crab," the fiesta maki, & the dynamite mussels -- all of which are on the regular menu. Just go. Go now.

Random notes: I really hate wasabi. I didn't mention this, but only 1 item had too much wasabi for me -- a wasabi vegetable salad type deal that was part of the biggest plate in the meal. Didn't bother me. We arrived at our reservation a tad late & were reminded there is a 2 hour limit at the sushi bar. Again, didn't bother me. Finally, we had the DMZ rosé with our dinner. It was great & I have now discovered it is available at the grocery store for $10.

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• See all photos from Emily F. for Kai Zan

6/15/2015

YES! YES! YES! I took my date her for a late dinner on Friday and it was great. I loved the atmosphere. It's very intimate, perfect for a date. The service was amazing, no wait, they answered our questions and made suggestions.

As this was both of our first times, our waitress recommended we try the Chef's Choice. It was a ten course, small bite, meal. Of course with something like this there were things I loved, and others I could have lived with out. Overall I was very impressed. My date and I both loved our experience.

If you are ever in the area looking for good sushi or just a great dinner experience, I'd highly recommend Kai Zan. I know I will be coming back the next time I'm in Chicago.

8/13/2015

My husband and I went here a few time, it has always been wonderful. This last visit a few weeks ago I was ever so slightly disappointed in a piece of sashimi we got, I mentioned it to my husband and as it turned out, the manager over heard me and brought us a new piece. I asked her why she did that and she told us how important it was that we got what we expected and that the experience was a good one.  I was truly impressed by this actually... here is a place that always gets great reviews, is always busy, but still found so much value in making sure we were happy, even without us asking. Love this place!

Vicki

2/11/2015 Updated review

Boo and I had an incredibly amazing and fabulous meal last night. We don't like to celebrate Valentine's Day, but we still needed a reason to have a nice dinner date night, so we decided that this would be our Valentine's dinner. I'm sure we could have found any old reason to come here, though. It's the best sushi in Chicago!

I've already been here a couple times but it was his first time. I guess you could say that I popped his Kai Zan cherry *high fives all around*. He got the omakase and I got some a la carte dishes off the menu. It was THE perfect way that we could enjoy a variety of their best dishes. For those of you who don't know, the omakase is the "chef's choice" course meal of on-the-menu AND off-the-menu favorites, so you get the entire spectrum (literally, all different colors and textures) of dishes that they have to offer. And ever since they posted their new uni toro tartare dish on their FB page, I've been dreaming of and totally drooling over it. So it worked out that I didn't get the omakase, because who can afford getting the omakase AND ordering this dish? Maybe all you big baller shot callers out there, but not me.

Just a quick note about the service here: our server was super friendly and informative. I wonder how long it took him to memorize every ingredient in the dishes he would bring out? Mad props. And the chef brothers are amazing with their culinary creations, which makes for a very legit omakase.

My top 3:

Uni-Toro Tartare: Holy mother of sea urchins, batman! I was definitely in UNI HEAVEN with this dish and I will definitely get it every single time I return. Because this #unilover just can't get enough! The uni and toro are served with quail eggs and some other delicious goodness that I can't seem to remember (wasabi and other stuff), all over a bed of rice. It's best to mix it all in together so that you end up getting all the flavors in one bite. There's a side of several small sheets of nori that you can wrap the tartare in. DIY sushi FTW!

Hamachi collar: OMFG this was melt in your mouth food porn awesomeness! The meat was SO tender and buttery and paired well with the ponzu sauce that came on the side. It's a fairly medium sized collar with plenty of fish meat to pick off, so I'm very glad that we got to try this. It's sold at market price, which was only about $14. Some places will charge more than that, so we were pretty happy that it wasn't incredibly expensive.

Uni/Oyster Shooters: First of all, the presentation is beautiful. The shooters come in a lovely martini shaped glass and you can see the uni (or oyster) in the ponzu sauce. And then on top, you see a gorgeous sprinkling of black tobiko (fish eggs), an egg porn worthy quail egg, and chopped scallions. Since the uni (or oyster) and quail egg is more on the "slimy" side as far as texture goes, it's balanced out with the flavor pops of the black tobiko and the crunch of the scallions. And then of course, the lemony ponzu sauce ties it all together so that it's not too "heavy".

It is no longer BYOB but they offer beer and wine.

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  Maki roll towards the end of the omakase course

  Maki roll towards the end of the omakase course
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  Sashimi

  Sashimi
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  Uni toro tartare

  Uni toro tartare
• See all photos from Tina L. for Kai Zan

2/24/2015

Amazing, delicious, belly-satisfying omakase meal that I am still dreaming about. Ever since the first course, I have been making a mental list of all the people I must bring and tell about Kai Zan. Not to mention, wondering when exactly is too-soon of a return for myself?!

On this particular visit to Chicago, my boyfriend chose Kai Zan as our first kick-off meal (& bless his soul for finding it). The small, intimate setting of Kai Zan was the cherry on top. Not too loud, not too many people. We decided on the omakase 10-course meal and it was the best decision ever. Priced at $60/person, not only was it worth every penny but also a steal if you ask me.

A few of my favorites were the Escolar Pearls (spicy seared escolar with soy & truffle oil) and the uni shooter (uni and scallop in ponzu sauce with raw quail egg). I also liked that they ended our meal with an assorted sashimi plate. It was a nice, clean way to end the 10-course meal. More toward the bottom of my list would be the Madai Carpaccio, only because I felt that the pesto overpowered the dish. But there wasn't a single item we had that I did not like.

There are too many dishes to go through individually, but check out my pictures! Each dish was perfectly unique in it's own way. This is not your typical omakase meal and although I was nervous for the whole "fusion" thing, each dish left me in awe. It was interesting that they incorporated traditional items along with cooked items -- like our 7th dish which they called a main dish.

Without doubt, I would highly recommend the omakase ... although I'm sure everything on the menu is worth trying. Counting down until we meet again, Kai Zan.

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  10th dish (of 10-course Omakase): assorted sashimi

  10th dish (of 10-course Omakase): assorted sashimi
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  8th & 9th dish (of 10-course Omakase): dynamite mussel & fiesta maki roll (tuna, salmon, jalapeño, avocado)

  8th & 9th dish (of 10-course Omakase): dynamite mussel & fiesta maki roll (tuna, salmon, jalapeño, avocado)
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  7th dish (of 10-course Omakase): "main course" (left to right) shrimp, takoyaki, char siu, chilled octopus salad

  7th dish (of 10-course Omakase): "main course" (left to right) shrimp, takoyaki, char siu, chilled octopus salad
• See all photos from Stephanie Y. for Kai Zan

3/15/2015

If you're like me and you hate making decisions, Kai Zan's Chef's Choice Omakase is the way to go. Yeah it has a bit of a hefty price tag of $60, but it's well worth it. You leave it up to the chef to pick out the best of the best and they deliver 10 courses to your table.

My favorites were the Escolar and Maguro pearls (oh my gosh, so good), and the Angry Crab - wow. So delicious.

I did not like the Uni and Oyster Shooters but that is a personal preference, you should give those a try.

I have been to Kai Zan before and not included in the Chef's Choice was the Karaage, my friend loved it but I wasn't as much of a fan, I definitely prefer their fish over anything. We also had the Apple Pie Shot which is definitely worth ordering for dessert - really unique dessert that I don't mind bragging about.

Also, even though it's no longer BYOB the wine is a great price. We ordered the Domaine des Cantarelles Cabernet Sauvignon for $30 and it was a great addition to the meal.

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  Chef's choice assortment of Sashimi

  Chef's choice assortment of Sashimi

5/5/2015

"Express yourself" isn't just a song by Madonna; it's attitude, individuality, creativity, innovation, and interpretation coming to a full-circle.  

We came to Kai Zan this evening to celebrate our five (5)-year anniversary.  Five (5) years ago, I said yes to my best friend, my gold-digger (ok...that was a joke), my chef at home, and most importantly, my foodie companion!  

Of course, a reservation is highly recommended, if not, required since the spots do get filled up quickly, for it's a small venue.  We were lucky because we sat right in front of Chef Carlo and Chef Melvin, the dynamic duo.  

Japan and I have a special connection.  I didn't grow up watching Disney movies and playing my little pony.  I had an unusual passion for dorama (Japanese soap operas).  Among 1000 plus dorama I've seen in my 29-year-old life so far, one of my favorites was the one titled "Bambino," starring Jun Matsumoto (from a Japanese musical group, Arashi).  "Bambino" was a nickname for a young man, who came to work at a popular Italian restaurant in Tokyo.  He came from feeling conceited and thought he was Mr. Know-it-all.  Soon after he experienced a series of frustrations at his work place.  Finally, his transformation led him to becoming a professional who has gained respect and recognitions among his peers and supervisors.  

When I observed the professionals who were working in the kitchen, the scenes from "Bambino" came live in my head.  How cool!  I got to watch all the actions happening while enjoying great food.  

I think it's time to talk about the Omakase.  We chose the basic Omakase featuring Chefs' recommendations ($60/person) from the menu.  

1) fatty tuna maki roll (on the house): the natural, rich fat from the tuna was unbelievably abundant, but it was melted immediately in my mouth.  What a great start of the night!  
2) madai carpaccio: I felt that it was an Italian take-on on Japanese red snapper.  That basil miso was soothing and wasn't overly sour.  It was a very elegant, sophisticated dish.  
3) escolar/maguro pearls: each piece of fish was perfectly seared.  This was a good transition to the following courses.  
4) uni and oyster shooter: there was absolutely nothing to be intimidated by!  The ponzu sauce was really smooth, which harmonized and acted like a "lubricant" to bring the oyster, uni, and quail egg altogether.
5) angry crab: the tuna and the spicy crab weren't angry to each other!  I felt the tuna was more of the protagonist, and the spicy crab played the auxiliary role. In other words, I tasted more of the tuna, not much of the spicy crab itself.  
6) char siu/beef tataki: surprisingly, this meat dish was light because of the addition of yuzu.  
7) shiitake mushroom soup: it also featured a tiny piece of oyster on the bottom.  I enjoyed the broth; it was flavorful yet simple.
8) an assortment of entree dishes: what a luxury way to present the takoyaki!  Although the takoyaki wasn't my favorite, the octopus with wasabi sauce was a nice change-up for the palate!  You could definitely experience "umami" with this chef's creative combo.  
9) dynamite mussel: the flavor of sake was soaked throughly into the mussel.  Sprinkling some of the lemon juice was a must!  I'm now have a brand-new perspective on mussels.  
10) fiesta maki: how could you go wrong with avocado and fresh raw seafood?  
11) an assortment of sashimi: the presentation was impeccable!  That was an awesome final chapter of the Omakase.  

The service was very attentive.  Dining at Kai Zan was certainly an unforgettable experience.  I have no doubt that we will be back for the premium Omakase!  

The street parking was fairly easy on Chicago Ave.  Otherwise, the CTA 66 (Chicago) bus can take you there, and be sure that you get off at Rockwell/Chicago.

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• See all photos from Rosa J. for Kai Zan

7/4/2015

As a vegetarian, they had very limited selection so I couldn't rate this high from my point of view. I have heard amazing things from others, as the Yelp reviews indicate, for non-vegetarian selection. Request the booths - the ambiance there is quite cool. We were sat at the counter, so it was fun seeing the colorful preparations designed quite well.

2/23/2015

We ended up coming to Kai Zan sort of on a whim--we were downtown, had time to kill, and we were craving fresh food. Not only did we get fresh, we got straight up raw. Kai Zan was exactly how a Japanese restaurant should be, absent of cream cheese and creamy sauces and with a focus on delicious simplicity. Best Japanese restaurant I've been to to date.

Definitely get:
The uni shooter
The red snapper collar
If they have it (it was a special on the night we went) the uni tartar which came topped with quail egg, rice, and more as well as little seaweed strips so you can make DIY sushi.
Sake, per your waiter's recommendations

Make sure to ask for the specials if your waiter doesn't offer the information. And, if you don't think you're into the whole raw egg thing, keep an open mind!!

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• See all photos from Rachael N. for Kai Zan

4/22/2015

Yelp needs to have an extra credit rating or something, because I cannot praise Kai Zan enough.  We ended up here for my girlfriend's birthday.  She used to live over this way, and when we started dating and were comparing "This is the best sushi place in the city" stories, she mentioned Kai Zan and stuck to it.  Every place I mentioned, she would just say, "I want to take you to Kai Zan."  I put her off long enough to make it part of her birthday evening, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long.  

This was the best sushi experience I have had in the city, period.  We started off with some chutoro, then dove into the Omakase.  The chutoro was delicious, better than the otoro I have had some places.  I will not recount each and every course of the Omakase as that has been done ad nauseum, but I will point out some highlights.  

I would make a meal out of the escolar and maguro bites.  Delectable.  A close second in the "eat this until I'm full" was the maguro stuffed with crab.  

The shooters course included one with oyster and one with uni and scallop.  Both had quail egg.  The uni/scallop shooter was the freshest, most oceanic thing I recall having ever tasted.  

The only courses I would not rave about were the roll and the sashimi plate.  The roll was a good roll, but it was still just a roll that didn't really showcase the fish.  The sashimi plate was excellent save for the maguro which inexplicably did not seem to be of the same quality as that which had been used in the other maguro courses.  It was still better than what you get at most sushi restaurants, but by the time that course (the 10th) came, I was getting spoiled.  

The service was just fine.  Very pleasant, described each dish well, answered all questions.  Only complaint is that the meal was a bit rushed as compared to other Omakase dinners I have had.  A few times the next dish was brought right as we were finishing a course, and once we had two on the table at the same time.  And I am not a slow eater.  I can be quite the pig, if I have to be honest, so I don't feel bad saying I felt rushed.  

I really cannot understand any of the reviewers who have expressed disappointment with the prices at Kai Zan.  $60 for an Omakase of this quality is an absolute bargain.  Try getting all of those same dishes at Arami, Katsu, Macku Signature, Momotaro, whatever your favorite sushi place is, and I feel safe saying it's going to cost more by a decent amount, and there are not more than a handful of sushi restaurants in Chicago where the quality will be in the same ballpark.

I have other daily drivers I will continue to go to, but Kai Zan just secured a position as the place I will go to when I really want to do it right.

12/14/2014

Yup...the best sushi ever.

It's all been said...just go.

I loved the decor.  The private booths are fantastic.

The food was plenty and amazing!!!

I loved everything about this place except it's distance from my house.

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3/14/2015

I love the food here. The best sushi in Chicago is very fresh and authentic.  The chef came to our table to tell us that he had personally prepared the salmon skin himself.  The deserts are so delicious too.

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  I love Kai Zan excellent food

  I love Kai Zan excellent food

7/30/2015

I hesitate to give 5 stars because I've only been there once.  Knowledgable and professional staff.  We sat at the bar, which I think I actually preferred over a booth, something about sitting side by side.  Everything we ordered-sushi, oyster shooters, appetizers, etc-was amazing.  I have to go back soon so I can raise it to a 5!

4/30/2015 Updated review

The waiter that took our order wasn't friendly. He looked like he was constantly despising other people and treated us like 2-year olds.

But.... the food was great! So good that we could completely ignore the waiter as he ignored us. We ordered a $70 omakase ($60 if you don't want to share), 2 chutoro nigiris and a chicken teriyaki. I can't say I enjoyed all of them, and because there was no desert so it didn't feel like a complete omakase meal, but some of the dishes were AMAZINGLY Delicious.

A lot of the things were not on the menu. But if you have sth you want in mind, you can always ask them to prepare it for you. (Here's our waiter trying to look like a pro: "I mean, if you're a sushi bar, you have to have those things.")

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  Fresh wasabi! Good! But it's hard to get it onto the fish...

  Fresh wasabi! Good! But it's hard to get it onto the fish...
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  Sashimi

  Sashimi
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  Grilled asparagus w/ fish/zucchini w/ sweet pea miso

  Grilled asparagus w/ fish/zucchini w/ sweet pea miso
• See all photos from Maggie Z. for Kai Zan

7/3/2015

My boyfriend and I thought we would grab a table on Friday right after I arrived to Chicago for the weekend. They were all booked -- highly recommend making a reservation.

We made a reservation for the following Sunday at 8:15PM. I was glad they seated us at the bar. I enjoyed watching the orders come in and watching Chef Carlo & Chef Melvin create each dish spectacularly.  It felt like this was something they could do with their eyes closed, incredibly entertaining.

We ordered the Chef's Choice ($60/person) and it was hands down the best sushi/sashimi experience that I've ever had. It's 10 courses -- I began to feel myself slow down at 5. We finished all, save for the last dish which they boxed up and we took home. There were a few dishes, like the shooters with quail eggs and scallops, where I had to stop a prepare myself for something new. No worries though, the flavors were delicious and fresh.

It's a small restaurant, but the atmosphere is intimate and comfortable.  Our server was well-versed in each dish that came our way. The rest of the staff was very attentive. Our water glasses were never empty and our plates were cleared promptly. The chef slid an off-menu roll across the bar between the 7th and 8th course that was the most wonderful marriage of flavors and textures that I wish my boyfriend hadn't eaten his so that I could have another.

100% satisfied. I would recommend Kai Zan to everyone. I would love to go again.

My advice is to try everything, take it slow, and arrive with an empty stomach.

3/11/2015

2 days after eating one of the most spectacular dinners of 2015 yet I'm still dreaming about every course served up at Kai Zan. I try to keep up with the foodie scene in Chicago even though I moved out to the east coast a year ago and stumbled upon Kai Zan's instagram page about a month ago. Kai Zan isn't your momma's sushi restaurant so check your expectations.. and everything you know about sushi at the door. Now step in.
The decor will quite literally set the tone for the rest of the night, it's dark..moody...sexy... you may blush a little when you step in even. The staff is incredibly friendly though and you'll feel at ease immediately. If you're lucky you might get seated at the bar so you can watch the magic happen, but the cozy booths lend themselves to a more intimate seating if you're there as a couple or a small group and want your privacy.

While stalking Kai Zan's instagram I basically had my heart set on trying out their Omakase menu ...but literally everything screams to be eaten and the choices are insane! how do you pick one over the other?? the Omakase is a 10 course hand selected menu by the chefs which really does introduce you to almost everything on the menu. It's special.. it truly is special. We started off with the Japanese Red Snapper wrapped around toro and topped with basil miso olive oil and tobiko... and ZOMG!!! I may have had a moment ... wink wink ....followed by more amazingness.. but my personal favorite had to be the Oyster and scallop shooters topped with ponzu sauce and fresh Uni.. how is this even real life? So glad we got 2 shooters each cuz there's no way I would have settled for just 1. I think the chef over heard me gushing about my love affair with Uni, cuz he ended up treating us to an extra course of hamachi with uni on the house.. over this amazing sweet mango sauce of some sort.. I stopped paying attention to every detail after some time.. you'll see the pictures on my IG and know what I'm talking about.
I just wanted to enjoy each bite and every moment. By the end of dinner we were sufficiently stuffed..split dessert between the two of us and had a couple drinks. Definitely made for a fun girl's night out and you really do need to go here with someone who appreciates sashimi in its best form.

Save this one for a special night... but make it happen soon!

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• See all photos from Farha K. for Kai Zan

8/4/2015

What happened to Kai Zan?

My wife and I came here two years ago when they were trying and the place blew us away.  The menu was interesting and the food was enough to keep us talking about it, telling everyone we know to go, since.

And then we show up yesterday and from the moment we walk in the door we could tell things have changed.

The sushi was well, boring, bland, and less exciting than prepackaged sushi that you can get from 7/11.

The hosts first words to us didn't mention our reservation notes at all, celebrating our first date after the birth of our child, but we were instead told that we have 90 minutes to eat and then they have to give the table to someone else.

Our server was strange but knew what he was doing.  The menu was converted into a lame plastic laminate with the descriptions of the food being dead on.  Tune and cucumber - that literally all that's in there.

This place sucks now

4/13/2015

Man!!! This hit me right on every level. I love Asian food. Kimchee, sushi, bibimbap, sashimi, etc.  This place has it all. And they had amazing service. I went with the Chef's Choice. 10 amazing plates. I was stuffed.

Tip: get the pickled vegetables...they were electrifying.

7/31/2015

Kai Zan is the most innovative and decadent sushi restaurant I have been to in Chicago. Highly recommend the Omakase if you're in the mood to treat your taste buds to some exciting flavor profile.  They have a great beer selection for those who love the enhanced ocean flavors brought on by beer.  The decor and the seating areas are minimalist yet cozy and inviting and the service is impeccable. Try it, expect to drop some bucks but you definitely won't regret it.

4/21/2015

The food was terrific. However their slouchy long-haired waiter rubbed our entire party wrong with the lax attitude rubbed us entirely the wrong way. He had no opinion on any of the dishes, made us feel stupid for not knowing the portion sizes, and made no efforts to make first time visitors feel welcome. Also, their wait staff picked up two dishes which weren't even completely finished. Hey! We still have ginger on the plate asshole!

Michelin rated for the food, not the service. This food was AMAZING but find some new employees

6/2/2015

This is the best dining experience I have had in Chicago.

I went on a double date and the four of us sat in the most intimate dining alcove. I felt like we were in our own private dining room. The food was absolutely phenomenal. We all order the omakase and I highly recommend it. If you aren't feeling overly hungry you can split and omakase with one other person for $70. That price just adds a few additional portions.

The sashimi is so fresh. The dishes we received included a few classics as well as more experimental tastes like the "shooters" which consisted of oyster, urchin, and quail egg with a bit of tobasco. The omakase is 10 courses brought out one by one.

It's an experience not to be missed.

6/10/2015

On vacation from Florida, for my sushi night I wanted the best Chicago had to offer.

Kai Zan did not disappoint.

I chose Kai Zan because they were well known for their Omakase. (Chef chooses all dishes)

My girlfriend got the special omakase ($120) and I got the regular ($60) and we shared everything.

The best omakase I've ever had.

Impeccable service

Sushi Chefs were amazing!

After 3 museums, a great comedy show and an amazing architecture tour- it was my experience at Kai Zan that I will remember the longest.

Thanks!

7/26/2015

amazing first time experience!
i went for my wedding anniversary and our server was justin.

quite frankly this was a michelin star like experience.  we had the omakase!

like a prie fix tasting menu for 60. it was awesome. 10 course dinner!
red snapper with oil and tobiko carpaccio
oyster and scallop shooters with quail egg
escolar and tuna maki
a spicy tuna bite
dashi soup w tuna and mushroom
a salad with garlic polenta and seared tuna
grilled shrimp salad with tako yaki and pork belly and peanut sauce and octo w wasabi
finished off with dynamite muscles
and salmon spicy roll
then sashimi were some of the courses

my only critique is save one of the courses and change it to a desert if the chefs had made a desert finale we would be in heaven!

its a lot of food even at 9 courses

amazing tastes and we had such a good time the ambience, service and food was better than i have had at high michelin star places

get the calamari as well!
thanks for a great dining experience!

7/23/2014

Magnificent! I came here with my boyfriend, sister, and brother-in-law. It was an early celebration for my sister, who happens to be a chef, so I was trying to choose the best meal in Chicago that wouldn't break the bank, and a place that we all haven't been to yet. And what do you know, Kai Zan was just that spot!

We all got the Omakase Chef's Choice 12-course tasting. This is basically a surprise tasting, where everything is left to the Chef. Of course if you have any restrictions or allergies, the Chef will adjust the menu accordingly. I have to say, without exaggerating at all, this was the best seafood experience I have ever had in Chicago. Every single course contained the freshest and highest quality fish. I am super picky about sushi and especially sashimi, but this literally melts in your mouth. Every course was full of surprises and full of bold flavors. I have attached all of the food from the courses to this review if you want to check it out.

It's BYOB but the corkage fee is $15, which has gone up from when they first started. The Omakase 12-course menu is $60/person, which is very very reasonable for the amount of quality food you get. Although the neighborhood seems sketchy, it's really not bad. Plus, parking is plentiful which makes it easier to get to.

The one and only thing I would change is incorporating 1-2 dessert courses at the very end of the meal because after the "main course" there are more maki and sashimi courses.

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• See all photos from Amy S. for Kai Zan

5/30/2015

Carlo and Melvin the brothers who own this have an amazing gift of creating interesting and delicious taste combinations. We had the Chefs Choice tonight and it was amazing!! The team they have built are top notch and first class!! Love.

6/7/2015

On my list for a LONG time, Kai Zan was just okay. Maybe my expectations were too high.

I had the chef's menu - a couple exceptional dishes/bites, but a few that were so-so.

Worth a try for newbies. I highly recommend you study the menu before you go. It's on the smaller side and a bit confusing. I was intimidated by it  - simply because it was so hard to dig into.

Service was terrific.

7/3/2015

I'm going to keep it simple and sweet as possible if you don't want to read all of this: Kai Zan is geared towards a *very* specific sort of demographic.

Not to say that this is a bad thing, but then from what I have experienced from this first time visit today, Kai Zan has definitely pulled the "beginner's club" card upon my boyfriend and I as we were in the restaurant for about nearly two hours, oogling over the 10-course wonder that is the premium Omakase dinner. I feel that Kai Zan tries to live up to its expectations and the ever-tenacious repertoire of tuna-loving "sushi freaks" based in the West who have not even gone outside the realms of the 'gang of four': salmon, tuna, yellowtail (hamachi), and ebi (shrimp), with their names in acronym form read out as 'stye', which is probably enough clues to why I think that my visit to Kai Zan has made me feel like someone who is completely clueless and new to sushi.

Back to what I ordered: the 10-course Premium Omakase Dinner. It is advertised as having non-traditional ingredients, which looked very intriguing, as Kai Zan seems to pride itself over as having a Fusion element with their food as well. At the time my boyfriend and I ordered this, it was $130 per person. Under the assumption that Kai Zan interprets Omakase as "up to the chef['s mood and choice]", we were cool with everything until we realized that we're still in a sushi establishment based in the West. Our server, who I forgot the name of (I'm sorry in advance!) answered a few questions that we had as much as she could, mainly with concerns of being served rolls, wraps, and gimmicks to please the individuals who aim to eat foreign cuisines to appear more "cultured" or "exotic". Bad news was the Omakase here is very much a predetermined menu, which really made me a bit wary about what was about to come. Good news was she ensured that we wouldn't receive any of that bad stuff, which we are THANKFUL for, but then we stumbled upon the next level of how sushi culture became a realm for buzzwords and people trekking to Japan's Tsukiji Market in Tokyo just to take pictures of tuna, boasting about the price and name of the meat rather than the quality, and then leaving promptly without getting a taste.

Buzzwords. Ootoro, Chuutoro, Akami, and Wagyu are the main triggers when it comes to thinking about Japanese food. We received all of these, if not more in our dinner tonight. I'm not sad about it. I'm not mad about it either. It's just that I felt a bit underwhelmed for paying $130 to receive stuff that is of excellent quality, taste, and presentation, but not that interesting nor memorable. So much for the innovation that seemed to burst out of this place. Out of the 10 dishes we had, at least 4 of them had some sort of tuna in it. Having one sort of thing once is great. Having one sort of thing in different variables but then are tangent to each other (i.e. ootoro nigiri with pickled wasabi, then shoyu glazed chuutoro)?? No, thank you!!! Also, there was no uni in our selection. I'm a bit shocked there myself, having paid that amount and not receiving the therapeutic treatment of sea urchin, but instead having a load of fatty-cut fish served to me with no innovative palate cleanser in sight or mind to balance the elements out. It was extremely heavy on the mouth, and by extension, the soul and the stomach; contrary to the nature of enjoying sushi, sashimi and nigiri.

Sure, this would be an excellent sensory and pleasure overload to those who aren't that acquainted with the taste and art of raw fish, but then I was looking for something to remember, something unique. And that's why I decided on getting the Premium Omakase, let alone an Omakase meal. I left disappointed. I was expecting to be served stuff that will give me the chills, something that I wouldn't be able to recover from, leaving me wanting for more. I didn't feel like I got the Omakase treatment that usually entails a spur of the moment choice to go with whatever has been served to my table already, plus the requirement of ingenuity that comes with being called an 'Asian Fusion' place that would make my head, heart, and stomach race with excitement. After the 'honeymoon' period of my meal, I just felt completely empty and couldn't even recall what I have ate less than an hour ago. I would want to give Kai Zan another shot at redeeming themselves whenever I have the cash to spare, or if someone is willing to treat me there (*wink wink, nudge nudge*).

If you want a good sushi experience here, get the Omakase. If you want an even better sushi experience here, research a bit before you visit, and write down what you want to try since Kai Zan can make stuff to order, as long as its a standard sushi, sashimi, or nigiri item of course.

You played it too safe, Kai Zan. Until next time.

6/10/2015

Get the omakase!!! It's 10 courses of amazingness! Be willing to try new things and you will have a great experience!

3/15/2015

The service is spectacular. Although we were designated with one server, multiple staffs check in with us and brought our food. Water was always filled. They had complementary green tea.

It was amazing to sit in the bar because you will have the experience to watch the sushi chefs and cooks make the food for you. It was very enjoyable to watch. They take their time and are so careful with their food.

I would suggest getting  the omasake if it's your first time. It's a sample of all their specialties for $60 which included about  9-10 courses of food. Personally, I thought the cooked food was alright. However, what was really delicious was the sushi and fish. I have never had fish this fresh. It's so fresh that it doesn't even taste like fish. Once you eat here, you'll realize what you have been missing your whole life.

I love this place and recommend everyone to try this place. You will not regret! Proceed with caution as you will get addicted.

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• See all photos from Huong N. for Kai Zan

5/17/2015

Wow, probably one of the best omakase dinners I've ever had. There's a $60 option or a $120 premium option. The $60 option offers a tasting of some of the more popular items on the menu. The $120 option offers off menu, premium items.  I got the premium option obviously and it certainly did not disappoint. Literally everything I had was unique and delicious. Several of the items in the premium option include fatty tuna and uni, which are two of my favorites. A few of my friends got the $60 option and it also looked amazing. You really can't go wrong with either option.  

The service was also very, very good. The waitresses were very knowledgeable and nice. The pace at which the food came out was also perfect.

We ate here during our trip to Chicago and of all the spots we went to (Girl and the Goat, Avec, etc.) this was our favorite. Just tasted really fresh and clean.

12/17/2014

Kai Zan.

Man.

It's one classy restaurant.

I love the private booths.  I love the regular tables, too.  

The staff is nothing short of exceptional.  Accommodating, enthusiastic and wanting to make your experience amazing.

And the experience is serious.  When I have brought people to Kai Zan I've preempted our visit by explaining that this is not your typical sushi experience.  Yeah, they have a few rolls, but you're not getting a spicy tuna roll.  You're getting shooters with oysters and raw quail egg.  You're getting interesting sashimi selections.  Not for the sushi virgin, probably, but definitely for those with adventurous palettes looking for something... different.  And exciting.  And most of all, really yummy.

Best bet is to go for the chef's special, which will be a tour of what's freshest, best and most exciting that evening.  Be sure to tell them what you like and what you don't like.  They'll accommodate.  And you'll be glad you ordered it because you pay $60 and just get a bunch of awesome plates.  Definitely the way to go.

Despite having a less than stellar reaction to uni last weekend (apparently it happens), I still rank Kai Zan with 5 sexy sushi stars.  They're awesome.

5/25/2015

I want to give 3 stars at first, the tuna and salmon sashimi is really bad,however, the Madai Carpaccio is soooo great! And recommend the escolar and Maguro pearls are nice too~

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  Madai Carpaccio

  Madai Carpaccio

5/6/2015

I love everything about the place. The location is cool too since its kind of on the border of where everything ends on Chicago avenue. You wouldn't expect such a great sushi spot in Humboldt park.

11/4/2014

Hands down the BEST sushi I have had in Chicago, and trust me, I've frequented most places here. Born and raised in Chicago, I took a few years off and headed to LA. Lucky for me, I worked at one of the best Sushi places in the area, and since my return, I have craved the quality and flavors that I had on the west coast... FINALLY, yes FINALLY I have found THE place.

Make reservations. This hidden gem is small. If you're seated at the Sushi bar, enjoy the scenic view of watching the chefs at work- seriously amazing.

Order a bottle of cold sake and make it a night to remember.

I suggest going the Omakase route. If you're feeling fancy and want something truley unique - go premium! You will not be disappointed. Forget your normal
midwest sushi ordering of going to the roll route, and let these chefs do what they do best. 10 courses of surprises... the best surprises to ever hit your taste buds.

Some highlights:

Japanese red snapper topped w/ black tobiko, basil miso, and micro greens
Escolar and Maguro with truffle oil soaked scallions
Uni and Oyster Shooters
Fried tako with yaki sauce, wasabi mayo and bonito flakes
New Zealand mussels topped w/ black tobiko, and negi mayo
Seasonal Japanese pickled vegetable
Spicy crab wrapped in fresh tuna, topped w/ tempura crunch

I can't wait to go back. I'm so pleased that this place exists.

4/24/2015

5 stars all the way.

Been here a few times and every time has been perfect. Have done the a la carte option as well as the 10 course menu and neither disappoints. If it's your first time, I suggest doing the Omakase. All the fish is so fresh and delicious. A few favorites below:

-orange rush
-angry crab
-either pearl
-lobster sashimi

I can't remember the name, but we had this sashimi that was served in a pot and coal-smoked. It was amazing. I suggest asking your server about it and, if they have it, order it.

11/4/2014

Japanese omakase is one of life's greatest joys.  It allows for maximum appreciation of what you're eating: everything is beautifully presented, every morsel a universe of harmonious flavors.

I've had sushi omakase at Nakazawa and Gari, but Kai Zan is a totally different beast. The sheer variety and quantity were enough to justify the $60+ bill per person.

Like Gari, they are quite experimental with their sushi. But they also serve tastings of other grilled and cooked items.  For example, we had takoyaki (!) and pork belly and uni and oyster shots.  It's a well planned and perfectly timed orchestration of courses.  As for quantity, you get more than a bite's worth per course.  In fact, we each got two pieces of several dishes, which is terrific because sometimes you just want to savor the same piece all over again (and again and again).

Because it was our friend's birthday, we brought in a birthday cake, and they kindly provided the candles.  The inside is cozy with a bar in one room and private enclaves for big parties.  That Michelin bib gourmand win is well earned!

3/26/2015

Wow. Not sure if this place is better than Seadog, but, very close. I HAVE TO GIVE 5 STARS THE FIRST VISIT I'M SORRY IT WAS TOO GREAT. I broke my rule, I usually have to go twice to a place before I give out the big red, but man everything was perfect. I liked how many different people had tasks, water guy, sushi guy, waiter guy, beer lady, host girl and they were all psyched to be there. I was solo so I really got nice attentive service which actually was quite wonderful and didn't make me feel like I was eating alone. Which is the way I prefer to eat alone.

Small intimate place though so I wouldn't come with my whole biker gang, probably just Rodney and Tito and maybe Purple Steve.

Even the guy sitting next to me alone at the sushi bar was just the right amount of talkative.

I wrote a haiku about Kai Zan:

I am a fan and
I'll go again in the end
We all become fish

5/28/2014

Had one of my favorite meals ever at Kai Zan and what a deal it was at $60 a person! I'm someone who generally orders similar things over and over even though I want to be trying new things, so a tasting menu is ideal. Not one course in this 11-course tasting menu let me down. The sashimi was melt in your mouth good, the mussel was dreamy, the pearls were divine. Ooh my mouth is watering.

See my picture for most of the courses and do yourself a favor and go here ASAP.

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  Tasting menu!! Amazing

  Tasting menu!! Amazing

12/23/2014

Not sure if I could like this place anymore.. I have been here twice and both times I was beyond blown away by the food, atmosphere and service. The first time I sampled various different items off the menu and the second time I did the Omasake tasting. Let me tell you that the Omasake tasting was by far the most amazing combination of things I have ever eaten. Everything is beyond fresh and you leave feeling very satisfied and full. My table of four chose to BYOB and for the four of us it was a flat fee of $30 for bringing our own wine. This may seem like a lot, but there was no limit on how many bottles we were allowed to bring so it made it worth while.

If you have not tried this place, make your reservation now and prepare your taste buds to be in heaven!

11/13/2014

Was visiting Chicago from St. Louis, and some friends brought me here.  Hands down the best sushi and Japanese plates I've had (for being in the Midwest.)
My mother is Japanese, so I can be a harsh critic.
For 4 people our bill was about $300.00, so your bill can definitely add up, but we left full and completely satisfied.  Even the waiter's knowledge of the menu (and things you can order off the menu) were impressive.  What a treat.   Oh, and be sure to make a reservation first!

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4/21/2015

EXTERIOR: 2.5/5
INTERIOR: 3.5/5 (odd-shaped, very small interior. TIGHT SEATING)
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 5/5 (the waiter was very attentive and honest, but it is very unusual to sit AT the sushi bar and not be able to speak with the sushi chef; the sneeze guard was enormous, and Kai Zan is run like a factory line; the person in front of the sushi bar area was a plater).
CLEANLINESS: 5/5
QUALITY OF FOOD: 3/5
TASTE OF FOOD: 2.5-3/5
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(**note: I rate each eatery relative amongst its type/range in THAT city.  So, no, I'm not rating this restaurant compared to Alinea or some Michelin-star restaurant.  I rate it and analyze it's component qualities (above) from 1-5 compared to other eateries with similar food type, aura, and price range)

(+) DISHES: madai carpaccio, angry crab, orange rush

"ok" DISHES:  4 uni shooters (uni quality was acceptable but not fantastic; seasoning is very American, using tabasco sauce, etc), 4 oyster shooters (I prefer my oysters to be very cold), kamo duck skewer (duck is hard to mess up; dish was unmemorable), 1 pair BBQ eel (eel is also hard to mess up)

(-) DISHES: tako skewer (rubbery), char siu pork belly skewer with kimchi (pork not seasoned traditionally in the Korean style, and kimchi was extremely bland), 2 pairs of torched salmon sashimi

COMPLIMENTARY dishes: escolar pearls (I generally do not eat escolar, because of what it will do to your GI movement), maguro pearls (excellent), eskimo clouds, 2 apple pie shooters

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We nearly ordered the entire menu and some things off the menu  I will say this, Kai Zan was given a $$$$ rating on Yelp, but in fact, I found it extremely affordable for a sushi spot.  It was more like $$, while Katsu (which we went to later in the week) was EXTREMELY expensive (and not worth it... it's like Nobu prices for medium-quality sushi).  For everything we ordered, I believe the bill was under $120?

It should be noted that Kai Zan is not an authentic sushi restaurant in regards to their flavor profile and size of sushi.  Some inauthentic places border on large or small portions; Kai Zan is on the very small end.  Their makis are served in pieces of 4 that are square-sized.  They are very bite-sized.  However, they are very affordable (I believe ~$8-9 for the set of 4).

I have been attempting to hunt down a fresh, amazing sushi spot in Chicago.  So far, I have had no success.  Kai Zan's sashimi quality was not remarkable; it was neither good nor bad.  However, I did not like how they prepared their sashimi.  I felt that the chefs generally needed more training with fish and various dishes.  For example, I asked for 2 pairs of torched salmon, and they did not know how to torch the salmon.  Sushi chefs will typically select fatty salmon belly, sprinkle it with rock salt, and torch it half-way.  

However, where Kai Zan seems to excel is their customer service.  The waiter was very attentive.  In addition, while we were not able to speak with any of the sushi chefs, they realized we were ordering everything, and sent us a few complimentary dishes.

In general, while I wasn't displeased with Kai Zan, I was surprised that it has a Michelin star.  Overall, I would recommend everyone try Kai Zan once to form their own opinion.  It wasn't a negative experience; the staff is very amenable, and the restaurant is fairly trendy right now.

1/26/2015

WORTHS YOUR EVERY PENNY!!

Kai Zan is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have been to in the US. Their dishes were so fresh, innovative, and unbelievably delicious. I highly recommend the Uni and Tuna DIY hand roll and the salmon press. I love this place so much!

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  Uni shot, such a great new experience!

  Uni shot, such a great new experience!
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  Daily Special Salmon Press. The crisp salmon was super delicious!

  Daily Special Salmon Press. The crisp salmon was super delicious!
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  Uni Tuna DIY Hand Roll, must-have!

  Uni Tuna DIY Hand Roll, must-have!

4/6/2015

The best sushi in Chicago, hands down.  No need to run to overrated downtown, when you have an absolute 5-star restaurant with phenomenal service.  I took my boyfriend there for a celebratory dinner and he was stunned as much as I was.  And, I'm hard to please, especially when it comes to sushi in Chicago, LA, or New York.  We both had the 5 courses, every one was deliciously prepared, the first time I was happy enough to try sea urchin as well.  I need to go back; now that I'm in LA, I know I'll be hitting it up if I'm anywhere close to flying back to cold Chitown weather.

7/16/2015

Wow!!! The atmosphere is nice and cozy . We ordered the Chef's Choice and it was amazing. My favorite course was oyster / uni shooters . Excellent service ! Can't wait to go back !!!

7/14/2015

Love, LOVE, the sushi here... Everything I have tried, I enjoyed immensely. The Green Monster roll and the Orange Rush are absolutely delicious... I do miss the days when it was BYOB... But options for booze, are never a bad thing!!

6/4/2015

One of the best dining experiences I've had so far. Very intimate and personal. Each dish comes with a bursts of unique flavors with nothing that tastes similar to one another. Great place for a date. It's reasonably priced for the treatment and great quality food you get. I would definitely come back when I get the chance again and try everything else. The hand roll uni and toro topped with quail egg was my favorite there. The char siu was out of this world.

5/14/2014

This was my 3rd dinner restaurant stop during a recent visit to Chicago.  It's a relatively small restaurant so you must make a reservation and stick to your reserved time because most likely they can't fit you in earlier or too much later - be prompt!  

It is not a totally traditional Japanese restaurant but I do recommend the omakase to eat the best of the best here!  I loved the mushroom soup, the oyster and uni shooters, the char sui bite and the sashimi (so fresh, love!!) the best.  They spice up some of their dishes - let's just say the wasabe will clear your sinuses!  

Service was attentive and patiently explained the menu and dishes.  And I love the decor of this place - you feel like you stepped into a home in a Japanese village.  Have them call you a taxi if needed after your meal as taxis aren't too frequent in this area.

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  Omakase awesomeness

  Omakase awesomeness
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  Omakase oyster and uni shooters

  Omakase oyster and uni shooters

6/16/2015

This is the best sushi spot in Chicago and I've been to many! It's up there with the real fancy shit in loop too, chefs menu is EXCELLENT! And the price is too good to be true ! I'm so impressed and so is my BF and he's been to Shiros in Seattle! Everyone is nice and smiley and our waitress was so adorable and well trained. It's tough to get in so I almost don't want to encourage people to come LOL, but I tell like everyone I know about them anyway. I hope they expand or something ... I love this place to pieces !

8/22/2014

This is my first yelp review and I wanted to make sure it was for the favorite restaurant  of my wife and I in Chicago. We have lived all over the world and have fortunately (or unfortunately) tasted some great sushi, so we are kind of sushi snobs as a result. We have lived in Chicago for four years now and struggled to find something on par with where we have lived previosuly until we discovered Kai Zan in November 2012.

In many ways, this has been our baby. We have watched it grow from a 17 seater relatively easy place to get a reservation place to a restaurant highly recommended and regarded by lthe ocal food press. That said, the service and personal touch has not changed as the place has grown up.

The wait staff are really good and welcoming. Each table is given a 2 hour allocation, but we find them very accomodating if the group is having a good time and you run over a little bit.

The owners Carlo and Melvin are a real treat. They offer amuse bouches. That could be because we come in about every 6 weeks, but my guess is it is something they just like to do. They make an effort to come by the tables to interact with the guests. Both of them are incredibly humble and warm people. One can even get off menu items. The uni toro tartare is an example of this!

My recommendation to first time diners is to either do the $60 or $90 tasting. If you can afford the $90, I would recommend doing this.

This place is great for groups as they have booths that can seat 6 people and contain the noise of the group very nicely.

I was slighly saddened to see them move away from BYOB even though I am not a big drinker until I saw that the drink menu is quite reasonable. The last time we were in there a bottle of nice white wine was only $21.

This is a place that is also good to bring people who may not be the biggest fans of sushi as they have char-broil items that are delicious as well.

They did a pop up ramen night, which my wife said was delicious. It would be great to see them do this more often or even incorporate into the menu, but I can understand if they want to keep the menu more focused on traditional cuisine.

Carlos and Melvin well done, you have a great restaurant and a place we always take visitors to town. This place is one of only two places (the other being Hot Doug's) that we have actually had people fly to town solely for the purpose of dining here. We cannot say enough good things about this place.

7/9/2015

This deserves 10 stars!! Great quality of fish and the service was perfect.
Me and my mom had the Chef's Choice and it was insanely good and also not too overpriced for what you are getting.

Can't wait t go back!